So reads the Events Guide to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Now if you’re wondering why a guide to a New York City garden is talking about Japan, just take a look at the photos posted. These were not taken in the Far East, but in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the West (Brooklyn, New York).
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a magical place, and even though I’m working under a feverish deadline to complete my fifth Coffeehouse Mystery, I took myself there last week for research. My favorite section of the 52 acre oasis was the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, and I hope these photos show you why. The little pond is home to a collection of happy ducks, and the pathways take you past gurgling little waterfalls and secluded hideaways.
The trip really was research, too. In the fifth installment of my mystery series, the heroine, Clare Cosi, coffeehouse manager and barista extraordinaire, is tracking down clues to an attempted murder that happened right in her back yard (actually, the back alley of her coffeehouse while she was throwing out trash in the metal Dumpster). The clues take her to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which is why I took myself there last week.
So I hope you enjoy the photos, which do indeed show, not only the beauty of November in Japan, but also New York City. FYI, the fifth Coffeehouse Mystery title is Decaffeinated Corpse…and if that made you laugh, good! These are light, fun mysteries, all set in or near a landmark Greenwich Village coffeehouse called the Village Blend, where coffee and crime are always brewing!
Till next time, Cleo Coyle
Absolutely gorgeous pics, Cleo!
Comment by Estella — November 6, 2006 @ 5:59 pm
Cleo,
How beautiful! No wonder you visit the garden for inspiration. You’d never know you were in the heart of a huge city.
Comment by Julia Templeton — November 7, 2006 @ 2:32 am
Wonderful pictures, Cleo, and you brought back a memory for me so thank you! When I was a teen I visited similar Japanese gardens in Ireland. (I’m half Irish and we were over visiting relatives) I’d forgotten about the gardens. it’s part of the national stud land — very different to your setting. We went on a midweek morning and we were the only people there. Amazingly peaceful. Here it is.
Comment by Saskia Walker — November 8, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
oops, the link didn’t work. http://www.irish-national-stud.ie/japanese.html
Comment by Saskia Walker — November 8, 2006 @ 1:21 pm
Estella and Julia, thank you!
And Saskia, thanks for posting the link…WOW, it’s amazing to see a Japanese garden in Ireland…it’s wonderful how small our world really is.
Luv,
Cleo Coyle
Comment by Cleo — November 8, 2006 @ 4:31 pm